Chapter 416: Bloody Primordial Essence

"Bloody Primordial Essence!"

The auction had entered its final stage.

Mr. Kan had raised both his hands, his palms cradling a perfectly round object that was as crimson as blood and resembled the heart of some demonic beast.

The object appeared exceedingly soft and pulsated like a living heart, swaying with Mr. Kan’s hand and exuding a sickening, blood-soaked texture that repulsed onlookers.

Yet when Mr. Kan pronounced its name, many eyes immediately blazed with fervor, and murmurs spread throughout the hall.

"Do they really have Bloody Primordial Essence?"

"Can news from Mr. Kan be false? Not only is there Bloody Primordial Essence, but even finer treasures lie in wait!"

"I heard that Bloody Primordial Essence is a sacred healing elixir..."

...

Mr. Kan allowed the guests to converse while a smile played in his eyes. After a brief pause, he then announced in a resounding voice, "Bloody Primordial Essence—the refined essence of Dragon Bloodwood! Only among ten thousand Dragon Bloodwood could one give birth, in its very core, to Bloody Primordial Essence—a veritable wonder of the world! This elixir is a supreme healing remedy that takes effect immediately upon refinement. I need not say more."

His tone faltered ever so slightly. He had noticed that the mysterious cultivator—the late-stage Foundation Building expert seated in the corner—had finally stirred. Abruptly, the man straightened his posture, and it seemed as though a pair of keen eyes, hidden within his black robe, had fixed themselves on the Bloody Primordial Essence.

From the start of the auction until now, as dozens of treasures had been sold in rapid succession, this man had remained disinterested, not having moved an inch. Mr. Kan had almost given up on him—until now.

Is this man injured? Or has he been drawn here by the allure of the Bloody Primordial Essence?

Mr. Kan silently pondered the matter. He recalled that among his treasured collection were several healing elixirs, yet whether to reveal them to win this man’s favor required a careful weighing of risks and rewards.

"Starting bid: one thousand low-grade spirit stones! Each bid increment must be no less than one hundred low-grade spirit stones!" Mr. Kan declared.

No sooner had his words faded than a hoarse, clipped, and resounding voice echoed throughout the hall, "Four thousand!"

The bidders suddenly froze and turned their curious eyes toward the hall’s far corner.

There, the man in the black robe sat upright in his seat. Under the weight of countless stares, he remained unflinching—his demeanor as calm as ever.

This was his first bid, and he had immediately raised the price threefold. Was it mere bluster, or was he determined to secure the Bloody Primordial Essence at any cost?

Mr. Kan’s eyes flashed with surprise; he had not expected this reticent man to make such a bold move. It was clear that he was resolute in his desire for the Bloody Primordial Essence.

With this unexpected bid, the previously fervent atmosphere in the hall had plummeted to an icy stillness. Just as Mr. Kan was about to employ a subtle tactic to steer the proceedings, another voice rang out, "Six thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

This bidder’s voice was refined and his tone much gentler than that of the first, yet his impact on the crowd was equally striking.

Then, as if to further escalate matters, a bid was raised by another two thousand spirit stones.

All eyes swiftly scanned the hall until they located the source: a man clad in a silver long gown, his head concealed beneath a cap, his face equally hidden.

Mr. Kan was taken aback. He had been well acquainted with every attendee in the hall, and the man in the silver gown had previously been inconspicuous, having only placed modest bids on low-value items. He never expected him to now make such an audacious move.

Realizing he had misjudged the man once again, Mr. Kan felt a surge of delight. In an auction, such formidable competitors were the last thing to fear; the more formidable the opposition, the better.

If these two were to match each other bid for bid, it would only enhance the event’s grandeur.

Mr. Kan’s anticipation was soon vindicated.

The man in the black robe turned his head to fix his gaze on the silver-gowned bidder. After a brief pause, he intoned, "Seven thousand!"

"Eight thousand!"

The silver-gowned man leaned back in his chair without so much as turning his head, unhesitatingly following the bid. His composed tone suggested that beneath his cap his expression remained calm and self-assured.

"Nine thousand!"

"Ten thousand!"

...

The hall fell utterly silent.

Even in the private rooms on the upper levels, not a single person had bid—everyone was merely watching the spectacle.

Especially since Bloody Primordial Essence had reached a bid of ten thousand spirit stones—a truly high price.

Seeing that these two were determined to secure the treasure at any cost, and with the price bound to climb even higher, the others were reluctant to get involved and risk overpaying.

Each time a bid was called, the silver-gowned man pressed forward relentlessly, until the man in the black robe, seemingly incensed, sneered. "Daoist, with your mere early-stage Foundation Building cultivation, could you really muster ten thousand spirit stones? Mr. Kan, I believe it would be best to first verify this person’s credentials!"

Mr. Kan had indeed harbored similar doubts, but had not yet found the opportunity to voice them until the black-robed man had taken the initiative. Seizing the moment, he turned to the silver-gowned man in an inquiring tone, "Daoist, look at this..."

The silver-gowned man chuckled softly without a hint of dissent, retrieved a Mustard Seed Pouch, and casually tossed it to Mr. Kan. With both hands clasped, he remarked lightly, "Although my cultivation is modest, I do have some savings. Mr. Kan, please take a look. However, checking only me seems rather unfair—shouldn’t you treat everyone equally?"

The man in the black robe sneered coldly, "The foolish cannot converse with the wise! With my cultivation, what are a mere ten thousand spirit stones to me?"

At these words, Mr. Kan was taken aback; his brows furrowed ever so slightly as he cast a subtle glance at the black-robed man. He could not tell whether the man’s behavior stemmed from overconfidence, sheer arrogance, or an attempt to intimidate by openly revealing his strength.

In a swift moment of thought, Mr. Kan returned the Mustard Seed Pouch to the silver-gowned man and explained, "I have already verified that your spirit stones are sufficient, Daoist! You may not know that he is a late-stage Foundation Building cultivator and holds a token. He possesses ample spirit stones, as I have confirmed before. If you both have no further doubts, please, continue."

"Ah, so you are a late-stage Foundation Building senior! My apologies! My apologies!" the silver-gowned man exclaimed. Yet even as he spoke, his tone revealed not the slightest respect; he refused even to glance at the black-robed man, and coolly remarked, "Unfortunately, I am in desperate need of Bloody Primordial Essence to save my life. I am determined to secure it and cannot yield it to a senior..."

The black-robed man roared in anger, "Fool! Do you think I would yield? Eleven thousand!"

"Eleven thousand and five hundred!" came the immediate retort.

Though the increments between their bids were relatively small, it was not long before the price soared to a staggering fourteen thousand spirit stones. A few others who had considered joining in, upon witnessing this fierce exchange, completely abandoned their efforts, leaving the two to contend solely with one another.

"Fourteen thousand and five hundred!" the black-robed man cried out.

Clearly, this price pained the black-robed man, and his breathing grew unusually labored as his voice emerged as though squeezed out between clenched teeth.

Several individuals seated nearby hastily withdrew, fearing that his unstable emotions might lead to unpredictable actions.

The silver-gowned man then spoke at a measured pace, "Fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

"Seeking death!" the black-robed man bellowed in fury.

In an instant, he unleashed the formidable aura of a late-stage Foundation Building cultivator and surged toward the silver-gowned man.

Along the way, many bystanders were caught in the crossfire, especially several Qi Refining Realm cultivators, who were so terrified that they collapsed onto the ground in a heap.

In a flash, the hall descended into utter chaos, filled with a cacophony of screams.

Mr. Kan’s expression changed dramatically; he had never expected this man to lack the demeanor of a true master. Unable to accept defeat gracefully and resorting immediately to violence, he urgently shouted, "Quickly, activate the array!"